Asked by: Lord Risby (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of withdrawing funding for Orbex on the UK's satellite launch capabilities and employment in the aerospace sector.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The UK did not withhold ESA funding from Orbex. The UK subscribed c.£162m to ESA launch programmes in November 2025 and allocated the maximum possible amount of funding to Orbex as per European Space Agency rules and selection criteria. To access further funding the company needed to secure a matched level of private investment, which it was unable to do. Had the company been able to raise the required funding, they would have been able to access the overwhelming majority of this £162m.
The Government made every reasonable effort to support Orbex. This included two cash injections of £20m and £6m last year to support the company to raise further private capital. Space launch is a highly competitive sector, and Orbex was unfortunately not able to maintain pace with European competitors, both in terms of its fundraising and technology.
While Orbex’s situation is disappointing, the Government remains committed to supporting our dynamic space sector, including companies operating out of Scotland such as SaxaVord Spaceport and Rocket Factory Augsburg. Orbex employees were highly skilled, and we understand that many, if not all, Orbex employees have gone on to find alternative employment.
Asked by: Lord Risby (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government for what reason they withdrew funding to Orbex to develop a UK-based satellite delivery system.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The UK did not withhold ESA funding from Orbex. The UK subscribed c.£162m to ESA launch programmes in November 2025 and allocated the maximum possible amount of funding to Orbex as per European Space Agency rules and selection criteria. To access further funding the company needed to secure a matched level of private investment, which it was unable to do. Had the company been able to raise the required funding, they would have been able to access the overwhelming majority of this £162m.
The Government made every reasonable effort to support Orbex. This included two cash injections of £20m and £6m last year to support the company to raise further private capital. Space launch is a highly competitive sector, and Orbex was unfortunately not able to maintain pace with European competitors, both in terms of its fundraising and technology.
While Orbex’s situation is disappointing, the Government remains committed to supporting our dynamic space sector, including companies operating out of Scotland such as SaxaVord Spaceport and Rocket Factory Augsburg. Orbex employees were highly skilled, and we understand that many, if not all, Orbex employees have gone on to find alternative employment.
Asked by: Lord Risby (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government what funding options they considered when evaluating whether to withdraw funding for Orbex.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The UK did not withhold ESA funding from Orbex. The UK subscribed c.£162m to ESA launch programmes in November 2025 and allocated the maximum possible amount of funding to Orbex as per European Space Agency rules and selection criteria. To access further funding the company needed to secure a matched level of private investment, which it was unable to do. Had the company been able to raise the required funding, they would have been able to access the overwhelming majority of this £162m.
The Government made every reasonable effort to support Orbex. This included two cash injections of £20m and £6m last year to support the company to raise further private capital. Space launch is a highly competitive sector, and Orbex was unfortunately not able to maintain pace with European competitors, both in terms of its fundraising and technology.
While Orbex’s situation is disappointing, the Government remains committed to supporting our dynamic space sector, including companies operating out of Scotland such as SaxaVord Spaceport and Rocket Factory Augsburg. Orbex employees were highly skilled, and we understand that many, if not all, Orbex employees have gone on to find alternative employment.
Asked by: Lord Risby (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether a UK-made rocket being launched from a licensed UK spaceport in 2026 is still a priority for the Government.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government’s priority is to secure assured access to space for the United Kingdom.
The Government is supporting the development of an operational UK spaceport and a competitive launch market. SaxaVord Spaceport in Shetland is Europe’s first licensed vertical launch site and is expecting multiple launches in 2026.
We will work with launch companies that can meet our assured access objectives to develop reliable, secure, and commercially competitive access to space. We will also develop and strengthen existing partnerships with our NATO and European allies.
Asked by: Lord Risby (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they commissioned an audit of Orbex; if so, whether they will publish the results of that audit; and whether the Government provided support to Orbex to enable its Prime rocket to be launched from spaceports in the United Kingdom.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
As with all Government investments, appropriate financial, technical and legal due diligence was undertaken before funding decisions were made. The Government does not routinely publish internal assurance or due diligence material, which is commercially sensitive.
The Government provided financial support to Orbex through a combination of direct investment and grant funding to support the development of its Prime launch vehicle.
Asked by: Lord Risby (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether British companies able to clean up debris from obsolete satellites in space are able to compete for UK Government grants.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The government has supported British companies to develop capabilities to clean up debris through both grants and contracts, including Astroscale UK, ClearSpace UK and respective subcontractors. The procurement process for a single supplier to deliver a research and development contract to remove two defunct UK satellites from orbit is ongoing. Protecting the outer space environment is a priority for the government, so further funding opportunities for British companies to compete for grants will become available in due course.
Asked by: Lord Risby (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the UK Space Agency's brief to support the UK space industry will change after it has been absorbed into the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
From April 1st 2026, the key responsibilities of the UK Space Agency will continue to include growing the UK’s space sector, working closely with industry and driving successes and opportunities.
This will be a key element of the overarching remit of the UK Space Agency to: Set the national direction on space including cohering policy, strategy and delivery across the whole of government, leading delivery of innovation and world class science programmes in partnership with the sector and international partners.
Asked by: Lord Risby (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to assist Ukrainian agricultural producers in maintaining and strengthening access to United Kingdom markets following the recent changes to European Union export quotas and trade measures.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Under our Free Trade Agreement with Ukraine, tariffs on all goods are temporarily removed until March 2029, except for poultry and eggs, where the liberalisation is due to end on 31 March 2026.
The UK Government is now considering options for Ukraine’s future access on poultry meat and eggs.
Under the UK-Ukraine Enhanced (100 Year) Partnership Agreement, which was signed in January 2025, the UK has committed to broadening mutual market access and increasing agricultural cooperation between the UK and Ukraine; and providing support to Ukraine’s agricultural transformation, including on food production. The UK is engaging with Ukraine on these commitments and to support the successful development of Ukraine’s agriculture sector.
Asked by: Lord Risby (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what measures they are taking to support Ukraine's alignment with European Union agricultural and food standards, while safeguarding continued access to markets in the United Kingdom.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Under our Free Trade Agreement with Ukraine, tariffs on all goods are temporarily removed until March 2029, except for poultry and eggs, where the liberalisation is due to end on 31 March 2026.
The UK Government is now considering options for Ukraine’s future access on poultry meat and eggs.
Under the UK-Ukraine Enhanced (100 Year) Partnership Agreement, which was signed in January 2025, the UK has committed to broadening mutual market access and increasing agricultural cooperation between the UK and Ukraine; and providing support to Ukraine’s agricultural transformation, including on food production. The UK is engaging with Ukraine on these commitments and to support the successful development of Ukraine’s agriculture sector.
Asked by: Lord Risby (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made on the impact of Ukraine's constrained exports on food-insecure countries; and what contingency plans are currently in place to ensure food-insecure countries are not affected.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine triggered a sharp reduction in global grain supply and a huge shock to global markets. The most recent UN flagship report on global hunger - the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World2025 - has confirmed once again that the war in Ukraine is a major driver of food price volatility and inflation, contributing to rising food insecurity worldwide.
The UK has provided significant support to ensure vital Ukrainian exports continue to reach countries that need them, including coordination with the UN and alignment with EU Solidarity Lanes to maintain export capacity and resilience. Since 2022, the UK has provided £11 million of support for the Grain from Ukraine initiative, and we welcome Ukraine's ambitions in expanding the programme to 'Food from Ukraine'.